● Ex-labour leaders, civil teams warn of democratic collapse● Lawmaker says NBA hypocritical on emergency, calls for refund of N300m ● NBA slams political local weather in Rivers, justifies convention relocation● Rivers Excessive Courtroom denies ruling in Fubara’s favour, faults pretend information report One month after President Bola Tinubu suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and imposed emergency rule in Rivers State, the transfer has continued to generate outrage, with former labour leaders describing the motion as a “brazen desecration of democracy” and warning of creeping authoritarianism. Teams loyal to former governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, have welcomed the choice, calling it well timed and crucial. Nevertheless, critics, together with girls’s teams, youth organisations, and civil society actors, have continued to denounce what they describe as a harmful precedent and a violation of democratic norms. President Bola Tinubu had, on March 18, 2025, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State after escalating tensions between Governor Siminilayi Fubara and the Martin Amaewhule-led Home of Meeting, a faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike. The battle reached alarming heights with an impeachment transfer towards Governor Fubara and subsequent acts of sabotage towards petroleum infrastructure, threatening widespread violence and unrest. This emergency proclamation was ratified by the Nationwide Meeting two days later, in accordance with Part 305 of the Structure. One of many newest condemnations of the emergency rule got here from the Discussion board of Former Labour Leaders in Rivers State, which described it as “a collapse of democracy”. At a press convention held in Port Harcourt yesterday, the group, led by its chairman, Achese Igwe, and performing secretary, Bennett Kalio, rejected the suspension of Fubara, his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, and members of the State Home of Meeting . Studying from a ready assertion, Igwe, a former Nationwide President of NUPENG, mentioned: “Tomorrow (right this moment), April 18, will mark one month since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a most undesirable and absurd pronouncement, suspended the democratically elected Governor of Rivers State, his deputy, and members of the State Meeting, and imposed a Sole Administrator over the state. This brazen desecration of democracy and the rule of regulation is unacceptable.” The group additionally faulted the Nationwide Meeting’s endorsement of the emergency rule by way of voice vote, as a substitute of the constitutionally required two-thirds majority. It warned that the choice not solely violates democratic procedures however dangers opening the door to authoritarianism. They accused the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), of systematically dismantling democratic buildings within the state, together with changing elected native authorities councils with appointed sole directors, and dissolving state boards and commissions. “The selective imposition of a state of emergency in Rivers State—whereas states going through worse insecurity are missed—isn’t solely questionable however reveals the political undertones of this motion,” Igwe added. The discussion board known as on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Commerce Union Congress (TUC) at each state and nationwide ranges to rise in defence of democracy and align with civil society and anxious residents to withstand what they known as “an undemocratic precedent”. In a robust plea to President Tinubu, the discussion board urged him to reverse the emergency rule and reinstate Governor Fubara, his deputy, and lawmakers within the curiosity of peace and nationwide unity. “The hardship confronted by Rivers individuals beneath the emergency rule is mounting every day. We urge the NLC to both act decisively or step apart if it can’t defend the rights and way forward for Nigerian employees,” the assertion concluded. ALSO, a women-led organisation often called Simplified Queens, known as on President Tinubu to reverse the emergency measures. At a press convention in Port Harcourt, the group’s coordinator, Miss Iheoma Nwankwo, argued that the situations cited for invoking Part 305 of the 1999 Structure didn’t meet the brink for a state of emergency. She mentioned the political disaster was largely the results of the actions of some legislators and never a breakdown of regulation and order. Nwankwo additionally criticised the actions of retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, saying his suspension of all political appointees and dissolution of presidency boards had solely worsened public apprehension. “We urge the President to not permit the ambition of some people to derail the democratic progress made in Rivers State,” Nwankwo mentioned. Director Common of Simplified Queens, Progress Hart, famous that Rivers was now not having fun with the expansion being skilled in different Niger Delta states. He harassed that residents have been displeased with the state of emergency and reiterated the group’s demand for Fubara’s reinstatement. Additionally, a coalition of 35 civil society organisations within the state submitted a petition to the Home of Representatives. In a letter titled “Extreme and Brazen Acts of Lawlessness and Impunity Being Carried Out by the Administrator of Rivers State,” the coalition accused Ibas of utilizing federal energy and safety companies to suppress democratic buildings. The coalition urged the Nationwide Meeting to research Ibas’s actions, direct safety companies to vacate the State Meeting complicated, and make sure the full restoration of civil governance within the state. They warned that failure to behave might result in public unrest and additional undermine Nigeria’s democratic framework.
MEANWHILE, a member of the Rivers State Home of Representatives, Mr Solomon Bob, yesterday strongly criticised the Nigerian Bar Affiliation (NBA) for what he described as hypocrisy, insincerity, and “misguided praetorian pretentions” following the physique’s current condemnation of the state of emergency declared in Rivers State. Responding to the NBA’s April 10, 2025, condemnation of the state of emergency, Bob defended the President’s actions, emphasising that the NBA lacks the constitutional authority and moral standing to interpret or restrict presidential powers. “The NBA can’t circumscribe or amend the clear, untrammelled and discretionary powers granted the President by Part 305 of the Structure,” Bob acknowledged. He argued that the NBA lacks jurisdictional competence to evaluate measures deemed crucial by the President. Bob additional accused the NBA of failing as a democratic mannequin, alleging it had degenerated right into a platform for pursuing slim pursuits moderately than democratic beliefs. He criticised NBA elections as predetermined coronations pushed by regional and ethnic influences because the controversial 1992 convention. He described the NBA’s stance on Rivers State as “conceited and a gratuitous insult,” asserting that the affiliation had ignored Governor Fubara’s alleged “crass lawlessness and wanton irresponsibility.” Mr Bob additional alleged that the NBA’s condemnation was motivated by monetary pursuits, declaring a controversial N300 million transaction between the NBA and Fubara, initially hid till publicly uncovered by Port Harcourt authorities demanding compensation. Bob additionally demanded the fast return of the N300 million to Rivers State’s treasury, urging native authorities to take crucial measures if the NBA fails to conform.
FOR its half, the Nigerian Bar Affiliation (NBA) defended its determination to maneuver its 2025 Annual Convention from Rivers State to Enugu, citing the conduct of the state’s Administrator as a key cause for the relocation. In a press release collectively signed by the chairmen of its eight branches in Rivers State, the NBA mentioned the present political local weather within the state now not aligns with the values and expectations of the authorized neighborhood. Nevertheless, the affiliation didn’t reply to rising requires the return of the N300 million allegedly acquired from the Rivers State Authorities for internet hosting the occasion in Port Harcourt. The NBA additionally criticised what it described because the failure of the President’s promised peace-building efforts to revive democratic governance within the state, stating that such efforts had but to materialise. The assertion learn: “Fairly than the peace-building efforts promised by the President, stress has steadily escalated in Rivers State. Arbitrariness and impunity are displayed every day, and democratic establishments have been demobilised in a Gestapo, military-style method. “Political appointments are being made by the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, with army fiat, with out approval being sought from the Nationwide Meeting or any recognized authorized establishment, for that matter. “In all of those developments, there was no signal or phrase from the so-called Peace or Reconciliation Committee supposedly set as much as resolve the political deadlock. It has regularly change into clear that the management of our state has been hijacked to serve particular pursuits, with out due regard for the peace and stability of the state, the financial system of the state—or the nation, for that matter—and the well-being of the individuals of Rivers State.” The NBA mentioned its understanding was that the intent behind the President’s declaration of a state of emergency and the appointment of the Sole Administrator was to take care of peace and safety within the state; to safe pipelines and associated amenities from being blown up; and to forestall assaults that might sabotage the general financial curiosity of the nation. Nevertheless, it insisted that the Sole Administrator had overstepped his bounds by dissolving and reconstituting established democratic establishments within the state, similar to boards, companies, councils, commissions, and parastatals, amongst others.
IN a associated growth, the Excessive Courtroom of Rivers State refuted a information report claiming that Governor Siminalayi Fubara secured a courtroom victory over FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and President Bola Tinubu, with a Federal Excessive Courtroom allegedly ordering the Sole Administrator to vacate Authorities Home. The report, revealed by an internet platform, talked about Justice Boma Diepriye because the presiding decide who dominated that the appointment of a sole administrator was “unlawful, null, and void.” Nevertheless, in a press release signed by Chief Registrar, David Ihua-Maduenyi, the Excessive Courtroom of Rivers State clarified that Justice Boma Diepiri, whose identify was seemingly confused with the one talked about within the report, is a decide of the Rivers State Excessive Courtroom, not the Federal Excessive Courtroom. Moreover, Justice Boma Diepiri is at the moment on Easter trip, which commenced on April 14, 2025, and solely the designated trip decide is sitting throughout this era. The courtroom emphasised that no State Excessive Courtroom has issued any orders associated to the subject material of the information report. Ihua-Maduenyi expressed disappointment that some bloggers and on-line information platforms prioritise sensationalism over professionalism, seemingly in a bid to generate internet visitors. The Rivers State Judiciary suggested the general public to hunt clarification on any information reviews in regards to the courts and their officers earlier than publication. The general public was additionally urged to ignore the false and deceptive publication.
THIS got here because the Advert-Hoc Committee of the Home of Representatives on Rivers State rescheduled its interactive session with the Sole Administrator. In a press release signed by the Home spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, the assembly, initially scheduled for yesterday, April 17, 2025, at 4:00 p.m., has been postponed. Nevertheless, the committee has but to repair a brand new date for the session, stating that the general public will likely be notified as soon as a brand new date is confirmed. In keeping with the assertion, the postponement adopted a proper request from Ibas. “The Advert-Hoc Committee on Rivers State Oversight has acquired a proper request from the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), to reschedule the interactive session initially set for right this moment, April 17, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. “The Committee has acknowledged the request and is within the means of coordinating a brand new date for the session. Within the spirit of clear and efficient oversight, the general public will likely be promptly knowledgeable as soon as the rescheduled date is confirmed,” the assertion learn.
